Councils Exotic Weed & Pest Program

Published on 10 June 2025

Image: Pittosporum undulatum (Sweet Pittosporum), Flora of Australia

As part of its ongoing commitment to environmental management, Council has invested $25,000 into addressing significant exotic tree infestations along council-managed roadsides.

One of the major projects was carried out on Bella Vista Road in Myrhee, where a large infestation of Pittosporum undulatum (Sweet Pittosporum) was treated. Spanning 800 metres of roadside adjacent to the Whitfield Bushland Reserve, the infestation included more than 1,000 plants of varying sizes. This dense cluster of invasive species was successfully treated and removed, helping to protect the integrity of nearby native ecosystems.

The works were delivered in partnership with the Taungurung Land and Waters Council, with the Biik Land Management crew completing the project on Council’s behalf—an important collaboration that also supports Indigenous-led land care practices.

Additional roadside treatment was also carried out across various parts of the municipality, targeting mature Ash, Acer, and exotic fruit trees. These larger infestations had previously fallen outside the scope of the Roadsides Weeds and Pests Program (RWPP) but were addressed as part of this specialised initiative. These treatments were undertaken by council contractors and focused on areas where long-standing issues had gone untreated.